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Walking tour in Florence

Established by Julius Caesar as a settlement for his soldiers, Florence is known for its breathtaking architecture and art. It derives its name from the word flourishing and incidentally it is believed to be the place where the Italian Renaissance started. Florence is today the capital city of the Tuscany region. Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo once graced Florence with their presence and it is here where you van see the famous David statue which Michelangelo sculpted. In the centre of the town you will find the beautiful Duomo.

Michelangelo’s David
This beautiful work of art was sculpted by Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504. David was almost immediately celebrated as a Renaissance masterpiece. It portrays King David at the moment when he decides to take on the mighty Goliath in battle. As a result of this beautiful sculpture, Michelangelo was asked to paint the Sistine Chapel.

Duomo
The word Duomo is used for a cathedral. It comes from the Latin word “domus” which means house and of course refers to the house of God. The Duomo of Florence is also known as Santa Maria del Fiore and is especially known for its unique dome. It was the first octagonal dome in history to be built without a wooden supporting frame. This dome is to this day still a distinctive feature of Florence’s skyline.

 
florence duomo

michelangelos david

Photos by Joe van Vuuren, 2006 Europe Escape

Piazza della Signoria
The Piazza is seen as the civic centre of Florence. It was built around the 13th century in an L-shape and today it is seen as an outdoor sculpture gallery.

Some of the famous artworks include:
• The "bronze equestrian statue of Cosimo I" by Giambologna
• The Fountain of Neptune by Bartolomeo Ammannati
• "il Marzocco" with a copy of the "Florentine Lily"
• "Hercules and Cacus", by Bandinelli
• A copy of Michelangelo’s David. The original is in the Academy of Fine Arts
• "The Rape of the Sabine Women", by Giambologna
Ponte Vecchio
This old Medieval Bridge is the oldest of the six bridges in Florence. The fascinating thing about this beautiful bridge that crosses the Arno River, is that it consists of shops. In Roman times the bridge was predominantly “inhabited” by butchers, but because they were responsible for rather unpleasant odors (yes, they just chucked it all in the river) it was decided that the space should be given to jewelers and art dealers.

Santa Croce Basilica.

The Basilica “of the Holy Cross” is the biggest Franciscan church in the world. It is perhaps best known for its artworks such as the sixteen chapels decorated by Giotto. The Basilica became the burial place of famous Italians such as Galileo Galilei and Michelangelo. Inside the refectory is a monument that commemorates Florence Nightingale. Although she was British, she borne in and named after the Italian city Florence
 

 

Florence Skyline
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